Jenny Marra to stand down as an MSP at 2021 election

Jenny Marra has announced she is standing down as an MSP at the 2021 Holyrood election.

The Labour MSP for North East Scotland cited family reasons for not seeking re-election next year, according to a report in The Courier.

The Dundee-based politician gave birth to her second son in April and also has a three-year-old.

She said the job was taking her away from her children too much, not only during the week but in the evenings and weekends.

However she has not ruled out returning to a role within the Labour party in the future.

In a letter to Labour’s Dundee branch, the North East Scotland list MSP confirmed she would not contest the Dundee City West seat or stand on the regional list at the Holyrood election in 2021.

She wrote: “I am writing to inform you of my decision not to seek re-selection on the Labour Party’s North East regional list and to withdraw my candidacy for Dundee City West at the forthcoming Holyrood election.

“As you know, my second son arrived this year. I have decided that my role as MSP takes me away from my young children too much during the week in Edinburgh but also at evening meetings and weekend commitments.

“I know that working mothers everywhere balance commitments, but I have taken the decision to spend these early years with my children and would hope to serve the party again at some point in the future.”

She added: “It has been the privilege of my life to represent the people of North East Scotland and to speak on behalf of the citizens of Dundee in many campaigns over my ten years in parliament.

“I am proud to have campaigned long and hard for decommissioning work in Dundee and for greater investment in the city.

“I learned so much from my parliamentary role: chairing the audit committee for the past five years, taking the human trafficking bill to the statute book and standing up for women’s sex-based rights in the face of aggressive challenge.

“For all these opportunities I am grateful to the Labour voters in Dundee and north-east Scotland and to local party members for their trust, advice and support.”

Marra said she remained “steadfastly committed” to the Labour Party, but the party needed people “who can run at this with all the energy and flexibility that political life requires”.

Marra is the third female MSP with young children to announce she is standing down at this election for family reasons.

The SNP’s Gail Ross and communities minister Aileen Campbell have both said they will not be seeking re-election in order to spend more time with their children.